Parole board rules suspect violated parole in fatal crash

Gerald Wetherbee Jr. violated the conditions of his parole on sex charges when he was involved in a June 11 traffic crash that killed two and left two others fighting for their lives, the Ohio Adult Parole Authority determined Tuesday.

Wetherbee will be imprisoned for eight months for the violations, said JoEllen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. She said privacy rules barred her from detailing the exact violations Wetherbee was found to have committed after he waived a hearing that had been scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Wetherbee, 35, has not been charged in connection with the crash on state Route 83 in Grafton in which his borrowed Kia Optima veered into the path of a Honda Civic carrying the family of Tom Tomasheski, a corporal at the Lorain County Jail.

Tom Tomasheski and his 13-year old daughter, Danielle Tomesheski, were critically injured in the crash, while his wife, Tammy Tomasheski, and son, Tommy Tomasheski, were killed. Tom Tomasheski was listed Tuesday in serious condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, while Danielle is now undergoing rehabilitation.

The Ohio Highway Patrol has determined that Wetherbee had a blood-alcohol level of 0.209, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, at the time of the crash. Wetherbee also wasn’t supposed to be behind the wheel of a car because his driver’s license was suspended for failing to make child support payments.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said his office is reviewing the report troopers prepared on the crash to determine what, if any, charges should be filed in the case.

Wetherbee also was injured in the crash but was released from the hospital about a week later. He was arrested on the parole violation a few days after his release. He is currently being held at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio.

Wetherbee, who has an extensive criminal record including prior convictions for DUI, domestic violence, theft and other charges, was released from prison in May 2010 after serving five years of charges of gross sexual imposition and pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.